DAYS AT DUNROVIN: ANALYSIS OF FIELD NOTES FROM AN ONLINE NATURE-BASED INTERVENTION FOR OLDER ADULTS

Abstract Implementing novel interventions for older adults is often challenging, and understanding processes is as important as evaluating outcomes. Days at Dunrovin (D@D) is an online program providing virtual access to a Montana ranch. While originally designed as an individual activity, researchers converted D@D into a group activity for older adults. In this presentation, researchers present an analysis of field notes from 65 group sessions (n = 65) in an assisted living community. Results are organized using the first four elements of the RE-AIM framework (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance). Reach (i.e., participation) depended on encouraging participation and transporting residents to activity areas – often time-consuming, and diminished by limited resources. Effectiveness (preliminary) was evidenced by participant engagement with the activity, and by staff and family observations of participants’ affect and behavior. Laugher, conversations, and reminiscence were consistently observed. Adoption, the level of facility acceptance, was mixed as some staff welcomed the new activity while others found it difficult to support while attending to regular work. Implementation depended on many factors, including the environment (e.g., room arrangement), time of day, fluctuations in participant well-being, and technological capacities such as broadband width. Most notable was a lightning strike on the D@D cameras that resulted in the temporary use of archival content rather than viewing livestreams. Results suggest the feasibility and potential effectiveness of using nature-based livestream broadcasts as a group activity in assisted living and reveal the invaluable role field notes play in understanding implementation and evaluating interventions in applied research.


CULTURALLY SENSITIVE STRATEGIES TO RECRUIT FOREIGN EDUCATED NURSES FOR US LONG-TERM CARE RESEARCH
Roy Thompson 1 , Deidre Wipke-Tevis 1 , Sherif Olanrewaju 2 , Olumayowa A. Odemuyiwa 1 , and Allison Squires 3 , 1. University of Missouri,Columbia,Missouri,United States,2. The Pennsylvania State University,University Park,Pennsylvania,United States,3. New York University,New York City,New York,United States Long-term care (LTC) facilities experience chronic nursing staff instability which negatively impacts resident health outcomes.Recruiting Foreign Educated Nurses (FENs) is one strategy to stabilize the nursing workforce but most studies on FENs, use secondary data from: American Community Survey and the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses.Few empirical studies have examined FEN experiences, employment outcomes, and impact on US LTC facilities.Since LTC facilities are dependent on FENs to meet minimum staffing requirements, additional research is needed to better understand FEN workforce issues in LTC, how to improve its sustainability, and the links to resident outcomes.Mistrust of researchers, however, may make FENs hard to reach.Therefore, conducting primary research on FENs in LTC requires culturally sensitive and community-engaged recruitment strategies.Drawing from existing literature and lessons learned from primary research conducted with FENs working in LTC facilities in the southeastern US, we will review best practices for recruitment so researchers can understand the cultural and structural issues that may affect research conduct in facilities where FENs are employed and their recruitment as participants.Developing relationships with FEN leaders as well as the Nigerian, Jamaican, Filipino, and/or Asian nurses associations can facilitate access to the population.Key stakeholder relationships also include the American Nurses Association, State Boards of Nursing, and Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools as they can facilitate entrée into data sources and networks for recruitment.Understanding recruitment strategies will strengthen research that deepens our understanding of workforce issues among FENs in LTC.
of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, United States, 2.

University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi, United States
Implementing novel interventions for older adults is often challenging, and understanding processes is as important as evaluating outcomes.Days at Dunrovin (D@D) is an online program providing virtual access to a Montana ranch.While originally designed as an individual activity, researchers converted D@D into a group activity for older adults.In this presentation, researchers present an analysis of field notes from 65 group sessions (n = 65) in an assisted living community.Results are organized using the first four elements of the RE-AIM framework (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance).Reach (i.e., participation) depended on encouraging participation and transporting residents to activity areas -often time-consuming, and diminished by limited resources.Effectiveness (preliminary) was evidenced by participant engagement with the activity, and by staff and family observations of participants' affect and behavior.Laugher, conversations, and reminiscence were consistently observed.Adoption, the level of facility acceptance, was mixed as some staff welcomed the new activity while others found it difficult to support while attending to regular work.Implementation depended on many factors, including the environment (e.g., room arrangement), time of day, fluctuations in participant well-being, and technological capacities such as broadband width.Most notable was a lightning strike on the D@D cameras that resulted in the temporary use of archival content rather than viewing livestreams.Results suggest the feasibility and potential effectiveness of using nature-based livestream broadcasts as a group activity in assisted living and reveal the invaluable role field notes play in understanding implementation and evaluating interventions in applied research.

DECISION-MAKING CAPACITY ASSESSMENTS FOR VULNERABLE ADULTS: LESSONS FOR SOCIAL WORK COMPETENCY
Adria Navarro 1 , and Eppie Leishman 2 , 1. University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States, 2. The University of York, York, England, United Kingdom Social work approaches to the assessment of decision-making capacity (DMC) assessment have largely been informed by literature from 25 years ago.Evidencebased practices include the ACED short version and the IDA-CA 3.0.When considering this specific practice by social workers there is the UK policy supporting competent practice through legislation, the Mental Capacity Act (2017) of England and Wales.Nine practitioners practicing through guidance presented by this policy were interviewed to learn what may support practices in the United States.Findings point to the importance of foundational values and efforts to optimize the vulnerable adult's performance.Practical methods used in the assessment are gleaned, along with the training that has informed their work.Training advice included didactic, case review, and role-playing of increasingly complex cases.Experience working with diverse populations of vulnerable adults was also highlighted.This research strives to inform steps that enhance capacity within health and social care settings to adequately assess DMC.Understanding decision-making ability aids in preventing both paternalism and the insufficiency of support and/or protection.The CDC defines a COVID-19 outbreak as starting with a single positive case of a staff member or resident in a facility and ending after there have been no new cases for 14 days.According to a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, 94% of nursing homes in the U.S. experienced multiple COVID-19 outbreaks, resulting in a reported 1.66 million residents and 1.64 million staff members with confirmed COVID-19 as of July 2023.Research has shown that COVID-19 outbreaks froze new admissions and caused significant financial strain.This qualitative study aimed to examine how COVID-19 outbreaks were managed in U.S. nursing homes.156 interviews were conducted with nursing home administrators from 40 facilities across the U.S. between July 2020-December 2021.Two major themes emerged from thematic analysis: 1) the definition of "outbreak" as a single individual testing positive with COVID-19 was inconsistently communicated to nursing home administrators at the start of the pandemic; and 2) administrator self-reports of COVID-19 outbreaks at their facilities indicated that many endured multiple outbreaks which were long-lasting (greater than 1 month).As policy makers and industry experts review policies around managing nursing home viral outbreaks, they should consider the emerging infection control strategies from the pandemic which successfully prevented the spread of COVID-19 and update the response to an 'outbreak' such that infection control mitigation measures are effective without causing restrictions that are detrimental to resident well being or nursing home financial hardship.

DEMAND-ABILITIES FIT AND PRESTIGE INFLUENCE OLDER WORKERS' INTEREST IN ALTERNATIVE JOBS
Nathan Baker 1 , Jenna Van Fossen 2 , Amy Schuster 2 , Chu-Hsiang Chang 1 , and J. Kevin Ford With the increasing displacement of workers due to technological innovations, many older workers may need or want to make career transitions.Therefore, it is critical to understand the factors that influence older workers acceptance of potential alternative careers.In this study, long-distance truck drivers (n=202), a profession at-risk of technological disruption, completed an online survey where they rated six alternative transition occupations (e.g., machine setting, operator and tender, cargo and freight agent) to understand what makes them interested in alternate jobs.Using multilevel modeling (with occupations nested in participants), we evaluated the role of perceptions of demand-abilities fit and prestige, as moderated by age, on interest in alternative careers.Demand-abilities fit and job prestige were positively associated with rated job appeal, which was positively associated with interest in the job as a transition occupation.Older drivers, relative to younger truck drivers, found job prestige to be more appealing, which Amy Meehan, Courtney Hawes, Renee Shield, and Emily Gabois, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, United States